Digital electronic engine control system - F-15 flight test

Abstract

Government and industry research programs have repeatedly projected substantial benefits for full authority, digital engine control systems in terms of improved engine efficiency, performance, and operation. A prototype of such a system, the digital electronic engine control (DEEC) system, has been developed by Pratt & Whitney Aircraft for demonstration on the current F100 turbofan engine and potential application on advanced models of the engine. This system exercises full authority control over all the engine controlled variables using digital computation electronics and fault accommodation to control and maintain safe engine operational status. A hydromechanical backup control is provided in the event a major malfunction in the DEEC system is encountered. The DEEC system was flown in an F-15 aircraft at the NASA-Dryden Flight Research Center in 1981. Prior to flight, the engine control system was thoroughly tested at sea level in Florida and at the Arnold Engineering and Development Center (AEDC) altitude facility in Tennessee. This paper will describe the DEEC system design, subsystem development tests, the ground and simulated altitude system tests, and the planned research flights.